Tag: motivation

To refresh my memory, I re-read the student handbook to see if there were any helpful tips that I had forgotten about.

What are your motivations for study?

This question was in the handbook and I thought it was a salutary reminder for me to look at, perhaps, when I am struggling or not feeling motivated.

The day I enrolled on this unit was because I wanted to progress with the degree and challenge my creative process. Since being a child, I have wanted to be an illustrator. However, it is only now I am pushing myself to succeed in my dream. At the end of the course, I wish to start my own freelance business as an illustrator, creating illustrations for children’s books.

Your Creative Space

As stated in a previous research point, my creative space is currently under my stairs. I could work in my utility which is much larger but it isn’t insulated, so is freezing during the winter months. By working under the stairs, I can monitor my two children as I am in the centre of the house. However, during the pandemic, it was difficult to concentrate on my work with everyone at home, so I moved into my utility for a short time.

I felt at times like Harry Potter, but I have got through to the second year of the degree using this space so it can’t be too bad. When I need to paint, print or illustrate large pages, I will use the kitchen table to work from.

I am excited to say in the next couple of months my husband and I are transforming our children’s playroom into a studio as the children have outgrown the playroom now.

Below is my current working space.

What do you need to succeed?

Reading the handbook, I considered areas that I have found difficult in the past and what I can do to prevent any struggles with my studies.

Areas I have struggled with in the past that have affected my studies are:

• Children being off school because they are unwell.
• My ill health.
• Bereavements.

These events did unfortunately take time out of my studies and made working difficult. However, at the moment life is okay, and it has made me determined to work extra hard and I think it is important to make sure I keep in touch with my tutor about how I am doing and to make sure I plan my studies around school term times.